Inspirational stories of exemplary people.
"Since it is so likely that (children) will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.” --- C. S. Lewis

April 10, 2012

Robert E. Lee Stands Tall Among Heroes

This week the Civil War started and ended in the
1960’s.As bad as this war was, with so
many deaths and casualties, it began the process of setting the slaves free and
made many men into heroes.One hero I
would like to talk about today is Robert E. Lee.Although he fought for the Confederacy, he
was a man of great principles and honor, perhaps shaped by his difficult
childhood.

He was born into
privilege in old Virginia, a son of one of the earliest settlers in the area.He was raised on a tobacco farm which was run
largely by slaves.His father struggled
to manage the farm, eventually ending up in debtors’ prison.That left the family fatherless and unable to
support themselves.Robert’s mother took
the children and moved in with relatives.Robert’s father died when Robert was 11, leaving Robert the
responsibility to care for his mother and siblings.His mother and sister were ill and required
care.Robert missed much school as he
cared for his sick family and tried to keep them from ruin.When it came time for Robert to attend higher
school, there was no money for that.Robert had no choice but to enroll in West Point, a military college.He began studies there at age 18, graduating
2nd in the class with no demerits on his record.He was eager to learn and willing to
work.His education prepared him for
engineering, which allowed Robert to contribute to the building of forts.He was able to return home after graduation
in time to bid his dying mother goodbye.

Robert fell in love with a young woman named Mary Custis,
but her father refused to let them marry, citing Robert’s father’s failures as
evidence of future problems.As time
went on, Robert showed his own merit and he was able to marry her.Together, they embarked on a long career in
the military, marked with long absences from each other due to his
assignments.Children came, making
Robert and Mary very happy.

Robert moved up in rank in the United States military, so
much so that when the Civil war broke out on April 12, 1862, Abraham Lincoln
asked Robert if he would lead the army against the Confederate dissenters.This should have been an easy decision for
Robert.It was a great honor that he had
worked for, the culmination of all of his work to date.But Robert struggled with this decision.He felt a strong loyalty towards Virginia,
his home, and the home of all of his ancestors and kin.If he were to accept this commission, he
would effectively be taking up arms against his family and friends.Personally, Robert felt that the Civil War
was a terrible idea.He did not support
the Confederate cause in the least.He
hated slavery.He thought the United
States should stand together and work out their problems, not split apart and
fight over them.After a long night
deliberating, he decided to resign from the United States Army, which he did on
April 20, 1862.He was appointed
commander of the Virginia army three days later.

Robert showed great tactical genius in the battles his
Virginia forces engaged in.Several
years into the war, Robert was given command of the whole Confederate
army.It has been said by many that the
Union must have had God on their side, as the Confederates’ successes were so
well managed.One author wrote, “His brilliance
as a commander is legendary, and military colleges the world over study his
campaigns as models of the science of war. That he held out against an army
three times the size and a hundred times better equipped was no miracle. It was
the result of leadership by a man of exceptional intelligence, daring, courage
and integrity. His men all but worshiped him. He shared their rations, slept in
tents as they did, and, most importantly, never asked more of them than he did
of himself.”Eventually, the Union would
prevail in spite of Robert’s tactical brilliance.After General Sherman burned most of the
South down as he marched to the sea, the war was decidedly against the
Confederates.

On April 9, 1865, Robert met with US General Ulysses S.
Grant to surrender, ending the Civil War.Robert made sure that the terms of surrender gave his troops the best
possible advantage to rebuild their lives after returning home after the
war.Each soldier was allowed to take
his possessions with him, including his horse, to aid him in planting his crops
to feed his family.Officers could keep
their guns.They were all to be pardoned
and given Union rations of food, as they were starving.Considering how most wars end, this was very
favorable to the South.

Some of Robert’s advisors wanted to continue the war by hiding
troops in the woods to engage in guerilla warfare, but Robert dissuaded
them.He said, "So far from
engaging in a war to perpetuate slavery, I am rejoiced that slavery is
abolished. I believe it will be greatly for the interests of the
South."

The war was over, but Robert’s home was gone.His grand home at Arlington Virginia had been
taken over by the Union and they had buried Union soldiers all over his
acreage.It was a final slap to the face
for his choice to fight with his fellow Virginia Confederates.

Robert’s final work was to reconcile the north and the
south.He told his southern troops,
"Abandon your animosities and make your sons Americans."He encouraged the northerners to help rebuild
the south.He wanted the nation to be
one great whole again.

Robert faced many complex issues as a child and let them
shape him into a strong capable man.Although he was born rich, he knew hunger and want.In caring for his invalid mother and sister,
he learned compassion and loyalty.Remember him as a hero, even though he fought with the
Confederates.

Here in the Atlanta Area is Stone Mountain Park, with an enormous carving depicting Robert E. Lee and other southern Civil War leaders.In the summer, the park puts on a Laser show on the carving. After several short shows appear, the finale always ends with Robert E. Lee breaking his sword for peace. The crowd always erupts in applause to Elvis singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. He indeed did seek for peace to unite the North and South. We can do likewise and seek for peace with those with which we don't agree.